615 Tasting Notes

71
drank Tokyo by Harney & Sons
615 tasting notes

Oh Steepster, I’ve been kind of neglectful these last couple weeks. I hope you can forgive me. You know I can’t quit you, baby.

This was the last of my sample of this, but it’s a very nice cup. It’s slightly sweet, and a but nutty and very vegetal. I never did pick up the caramel notes, but it’s still a comforting and satisfying cup.

Preparation
165 °F / 73 °C 2 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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35

Oh dear.

Before looking this up, I thought this was a black tea base — not a metric buttload of hibiscus.

Oh dear.

Suprisingly, it doesn’t kill the cup as much as I was thinking. This is really all about the cinnamon, and it’s really a potent cinnamon. There’s a definite tart note that settles behind the cinnamon. Then the sweetness of licorice. And somewhere behind that is the note that suggests plum, but in an under ripe not terribly plummy kind of way.

I don’t hate this and it definitely wasn’t awful enough to pitch the cup. But boy am I glad I only have two cups of this to get through.

Did I mention it was snowing today? Because seriously.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
__Morgana__

“Metric buttload.” LOL.

Stephanie

LOL…cinnamon and hibiscus sounds dreadful :P

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76

At first taste, this tasted a lot like a plain black iced tea with a shot of melted lime jello in it. It was sweet and limey, but dominantly the tea flavor.

About halfway through the sip, though, the lime becomes more tangy, sharp, and natural tasting like a fresh key lime. There does seem to be an amount of tart creamy cheesecake flavor hiding underneath it, as well.

This one didn’t really grow on me until I had already reached the bottom of my pitcher (Sad!). I don’t know if it strikes me as a reorder, but I definitely ended up liking it better than my initial impressions had me thinking.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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84

I’m always on the look out for a good hibiscus and rooibos free herbal, and I liked the Sweet Life from here I tried so much that when I reordered, I figured I’d try some of this too.

It’s heavy, so my 50g pouch won’t go far, which is too bad because I am really enjoying this so far.

This is a tropical feeling blend, heavy on the coconut and tropical fruits (definitely mango, and I am getting a but of papaya). There’s also the tartness of apple, the depth of cinnamon, and the slight roasiness of almond and popcorn. (I think the popcorn + coconut combination tastes a bit like caramel, but that might just be me). This all comes together to create a surprisingly harmonious blend.

It also gets a ’I’d drink that again.’ from Fiance.

I’d bet this would be outstanding iced, too.

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more

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86

Mmmm, this smells like chocolate and malt once it’s steeped up.

Tastewise, it’s very malty, with intense honey notes and just a bit of stone fruit. It’s incredibly smooth and despite the richness of flavors and thickness of the cup, the finish feels quite crisp and a bit lemony/citrus.

This is kind of like the love child of a Yunnan and a Darjeeling. And what a beautiful child it is.

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
Veronica

That sounds delicious!!!

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74

Happy Steepster-versary to me! It’s been a year since I made my account now. Here’s to another!

This is a pretty fair tea. It appears to be a blend of estates, but it’s satisfying and comforting in the way that Darjeelings are. It has notes of cocoa and malt, but not as strongly as a second flush Darjeeling would, and slight notes of muscatel with an earthy/grassy finish.

I can’t see myself reaching for this over my second flush single estates, but I won’t have a problem with what I have at all.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
__Morgana__

Happy anniversary!

moraiwe

Thank you!

Indigobloom

Congrats!! :D

Courtney

Happy Steepster-versary :)

keychange

woohoo!!

boychik

Congrats!

moraiwe

Woo! Thanks, everyone!

Stephanie

One year in tealand! :D

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79
drank Jardin Sauvage by Lupicia
615 tasting notes

This was a bagged offering I grabbed from a tea box a while back, and while I was working on dinner yesterday, figured I’d brew it up.

The dry bag smells nothing like what I was expecting! It smells like lemon cream and is heavenly! I could seriously keep this bag and just like give it a good sniff once in a while. But that’s kind of weird, so I’ll hold off.

The flavor is a sweet creamy lemon, with a touch of mango. It’s very gentle, and just slightly tropical. The rooibos is pretty much a non existent flavor, so this is a delicious caffeine-free/rooibos option for me!

It’s also fantastic iced. Very fresh and refreshing. Yum!

Preparation
Boiling 7 min, 0 sec
TeaBrat

yes, I love this one iced!

music27note

Sounds delicious!

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78
drank SBT: Cucumber Melon by 52teas
615 tasting notes

This would be a perfect tea for the dog days of summer! It’s light and cooling, with a refreshing amount of cucumber and the sweetness of honeydew.

I’m finding this more subtle than some of the other flavors, but it holds it’s own against the base without being overwhelmed. I don’t know if I could pick out the cucumber without knowing it was there first, though.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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80

I really, really appreciate the free monthly samples that Red Leaf Tea is offering. It’s giving me a chance to try things I might have otherwise put off or ignored completely.

Hmmm, this was delicious but it tasted very similar to the caramel matcha. It was creamier and maybe even a little sweeter, but a bit less buttery. It definitely had that burnt sugar caramel/toffee note going on, though. I didn’t really pick up any chocolate like others are mentioning, but with the sweetened vanilla almond milk I tried with it, I definitely got a delicious nutty toffee flavor.

While I really enjoyed this one, I think the caramel inches it out as the better dessert matcha for me (And the acai one is still my favorite overall).

Stephanie

I’ve been really loving the samples too! I always want to taste the flavors before I purchase them :)

boychik

so, if you want to get 3+1 free deal what would you pick? ;)

Stephanie

Me or moraiwe? I would definitely get Coconut- it is in my opinion the best matcha flavor of all! I’d probably also get the French Butter Cookie because I’ve been hearing how amazing it is, the Almond because it is very highly rated and I love nutty things, and maybe Cheesecake for the last one because it seems to go really well in fruit smoothies. What about you guys? :)

boychik

I only tried Cheesecake sample and i love it :)

moraiwe

Right now? I’m totally stocked on Caramel, so I’d probably hold off on that, but I’d replace Cheesecake with it normally.

So, I’d go Acai because it’s amazing, Cheesecake because Fiance likes it and I like it in smoothies, Coconut because I keep hearing everyone rave about it, and probably Tiramisu because it’s my favorite dessert ever and I really want to try it.

The Eggnog one is surprisingly good too, but I think I’d burn out of it fast when not over the holidays.

boychik

Coconut mmmm… i love it. everywhere. i’m so glad Chobani started making coconut yogurt. i need to visit RLT website;)

Cheri

Cheesecake is on sale on their site right now. I’m debating placing another order because I enjoyed the sample, but I’d like to up the flavor to a stronger level. And then I could get the English Toffee sample…

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84

I think blueberry is one of my favorite flavors in iced teas.

This is a really nice blueberry flavor, with a natural, sweet flavor. The blackberry flavor is more subtle and comes out a bit more at the end of the sip. It’s presence does seem to add a layer of depth to the blueberry, though.

Like most of the SBTs I’ve tried, there is still a strong tea flavor that is well-balanced with the (in this instance) fruity flavors.

I would definitely get this one again.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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Profile

Bio

Intro:

Name: Lauren
Location: Wisconsin (previously a Chicago girl)
Occupation: Student by day and super hero by night
Super Hero? Yep!
Which One? I can’t tell you that! Secret identities and such. Just know I’m not the hero they want, but the hero they need.
Sidekicks: Fiance and two budgies, Skitter and Gandalf

Hobbies:

Reading, writing, cooking, video games, computers, drawing, crafting, papercraft. Oh and tea.

A brief history:

I grew up in a family where the only working coffee maker was in my dad’s office. So the name of the game for my mother and I quickly became (bagged) tea. In 2004/2005, I discovered Adagio Teas. I don’t remember how it happened, or why I decided to pursue a purchase but here we are. I haven’t looked back.

My tea tastes have changed over time and I’ve moved from liking solely flavored teas (mostly black and white) to enjoying Darjeelings primarily, though malty unflavored blacks, fresh tasting greens, and lightly oxidized oolongs come in pretty high on my list, too. Of course, I still enjoy a good cup of flavored tea. I prefer caffeinated teas, as I have a horrible caffeine addiction that I don’t plan on kicking any time soon.

Red rooibos and lapsang souchong (or other strongly smoky teas) are my arch nemeses and I will see them defeated and removed by force from my cupboard. Like all thing, there are exceptions, but I assume they’re guilty until proven innocent.

I really don’t like negatively rating things, because I feel like if you don’t have something nice to say, you probably shouldn’t say it. But in the interest of non-biased tea reviews I’m going to give it a shot. I view every tea as a potential adventure so I’ll try most things at least once.

I love trading and swaps are always welcome! Please note, though, what it in my cupboard includes amounts ranging from a couple cups to 4 ounces or more, so please PM me to find out if what you’re seeking is available in that trade amount.

According to my spreadsheet, I also have about 100 other 1-4 cup samples that are not in my cupboard.. Feel free to message if you’re interested in see the spreadsheet for possible swap options as well.

Tea Ratings:

100-95 Nectar of the teagods that has been bestowed upon my unworthy tongue. I will never let this tin run empty.

86-94 These are the teas I would like to keep regularly stocked, but sometimes life gets in the way. Lovely teas, but not quite god tier. I still get cravings for these.

74-85 Good teas, but not amazing. I enjoy these, but may or may not restock once they run out. I would still recommend these to others.

60-73 Not bad. I’ll gladly keep drinking my cup, and wouldn’t say no if someone offered me this tea. I probably won’t rebuy these as there is likely something else that is comparable and better.

47-59 Certainly drinkable and might even have some characteristics that I enjoy, but I won’t pick it up again

30-46 I’ll probably finish my cup, but this tea isn’t to my taste OR it’s just overwhemingly mediocre. Life’s too short for bad tea.

11-29 This cup is in the sink now and I will never willingly consume this again. If you see a tea rated this way, I probably followed it with mouthwash.

0-10 Please say a prayer for the cup I destroyed in the process of disposing of this tea in the quickest manner possible. I may need tea therapy before I drink a similar tea again.

Location

Wisconsin, US

Website

http://atinyteapot.tumblr.com/

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